Washer tossing game

ABSTRACT

A target for a tossing game is disclosed comprising a soft metallic surface adapted for use as a washer tossing game. The disclosed soft metallic target absorbs the impact of a tossed object such as a washer and allows it to remain at or near the point of impact rather than bouncing or ricocheting away.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to games of skill, and in particular togames involving tossing projectiles at a target. More particularly, itrelates to a target and target surface for use with washers as theprojectiles.

2. Description of Related Art

Washers is a game of skill similar in many respects to horseshoes.Participants attempt to toss washers onto a target to score points. Inits traditional form, the game consists of two pits located opposite oneanother with recessed portions, or cups, near their centers. Points areearned by throwing a washer in the cup or nearest to the cup.

The cup is often formed from a standard 32 ounce can or from a piece ofpipe of similar diameter placed in the ground such that its upper edgeis level with the surface. The cup is typically placed in a pit, similarto a horseshoe pit, where it is surrounded by bare dirt or possiblysand. The hole is typically placed somewhat off-center, nearer the backthan the front of the pit.

The game is typically played with standard washers (2.5″ outer diameterand 1″ inner diameter) available from any hardware store. The washersare typically painted or otherwise marked to avoid confusion and disputeas to which player or team each washer belongs.

Various variations of traditional washers have been made in order tomake the game portable or permit it to be played indoors. One of themost common types of games use targets with one or more holes throughwhich a player attempts to throw a washer. These games have beenmanufactured from hard materials and suffer some significant drawbacks.Primarily, tossed washers that do not fall into the target hole usuallyricochet away from the target and may strike and even damage surroundingobjects, especially when used inside a home. This tendency alsodiminishes the quality of game play as points are normally he awardedfor the toss nearest the target hole if no washer has gone in the hole.If there are no washers on the target surface awarding such points maybe difficult or impossible.

Another very common variation uses a target with one or more targetareas separated by a short dividing wall or barrier. Often such gameshave a cylindrical shaped container as a bulls-eye and one or moreadditional walls that may or may not be of the same shape. These gamesare typically bulky and difficult to transport. Also, washers mayricochet off of the top of sides of the target walls as described above.

Jeandron (U.S. Pat. No. 3,731,930) discloses a ring toss game with atarget pad made of a resilient material, such as polyurethane, for usewith small washers described as similar in size and diameter to a penny.Jeandron teaches that the resilient material will absorb the impact ofthe projectile and reduce ricochets. However, the small washers ofJeandron can be difficult to throw accurately because of their size.Furthermore, when used outdoors, the small projectile can be affected bywind and rendered practically unusable.

There remains a need in the art for a washers target that is durablewhen used with larger washers and that reduces the number of washerricochets during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this disclosure, the problem of washers ricochetingoff of a target surface is significantly reduced by using a targetsurface comprising a soft metal. The target surface absorbs the force ofthe washer's impact reducing its momentum and causing it to remain onthe surface, typically at or near the point of impact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of the disclosed playing target.

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the disclosedplaying target.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of thedisclosed playing target.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of thedisclosed playing target.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the disclosed target as it might beused in a game of washers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present disclosure provides a portable washer game. The gamecomprises a soft metallic surface adapted to function as a target areafor the tossed washers. It is preferably attached to a base piece, butno additional structure beyond the target is strictly necessary topractice the claims. The disclosed target overcomes deficiencies in theprior art by providing a target comprising a soft metallic surface. Thedisclosed surface absorbs impact forces from thrown washers, allowingthe washer to remain on the surface rather than bouncing or reboundingoff into the surrounding area.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the disclosed gametarget is shown. The preferred target is circular in shape as viewedfrom above, but no particular shape is required. The disclosed targetmaterial preferably covers a substantial portion of the game targetsurface, but it is not necessary that it cover all or any particularminimum percentage of the target.

The preferred target 11 comprises a soft metallic material. Thepreferred material is lead, or lead containing alloys, due to itssoftness. However, any other soft metal and/or metal alloy, such as tin,aluminum, copper, and/or pewter may be used-including alloys containingthese and/or other substances. A metal is considered soft for purposesof this disclosure if it will perform the functions of the targetdescribed in this disclosure. More precisely, when used as a targetsurface a metal should tend to absorb impact energy from a washer tossedthereon, especially when the lead edge of the washer is the first partof the washer to strike the target.

Target 11 is preferably attached to base 12, which may be made of anymaterial. The preferred materials are rigid polymers because of theirdurability, light weight, and cost, but other materials, such as wood,could be substituted.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, target 11 is preferably recessed intobase 12 such that it's outer edge is not exposed and it's upper surfaceis level with the upper surface of the base piece. Target 11 may beattached to base 12 by any means appropriate for the selected materials.Alternatively, base 12 may extend above the surface of target 11 andoverlaps onto target 11 to help secure it in place, as illustrated inFIG. 3.

The preferred target includes a bulls eye in the center of the target.Preferably, this is a opening or hole through the target, as illustratedby FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, it may extend only part-way throughbase 12, as shown by FIG 4. The inner edge of target 11 may extend tothe edge of bull's eye 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, or may abut base 12near bull's eye 13, as shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates a pair of one embodiment of the disclosed game inuse. The two targets are disposed some chosen distance apart from eachother. A player stands near one target and attempts to toss washer(s) 14onto the other target.

The disclosed target 11 functions best when washer 14 is tossed suchthat the leading edge of washer 14 is the first part of washer 14 toimpact target 11. Thus, it is preferable that washer 14 be tossed in away that its leading edge is somewhat lower in elevation than thetrailing edge. The disclosed target 11 also functions best with a washer14 that has a square rather than rounded edge impacting target 11, asdescribed above. The described washer and throwing technique take bestadvantage of the properties of the disclosed target 11.

The game generally functions better when the coefficient of frictionbetween washer 14 and target 11 is higher, but no particular minimumcoefficient of friction is required to practice the claimed invention.

Although the present invention has been described with respect tospecific details, it is not intended that such details should beregarded as limitations on the scope of the invention, except as and tothe extent that they are included in the accompanying claims.

1. A game target for the game of washer-tossing comprising: a base, thebase having an opening or hole therein; and an impact-absorbing metallicmaterial attached to the base and in the form of a flat surface havingan opening disposed over the opening or hole in the base, the openingbeing sized to receive a washer.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The game target ofclaim 1, wherein the metallic material is selected from the groupconsisting of lead, tin, aluminum, copper, pewter or alloys thereof. 4.(canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. A method ofplaying a game comprising tossing washers onto a target wherein thetarget comprises a base, the base having an opening or hole therein andan impact-absorbing metallic material attached to the base and in theform of a flat surface having an opening disposed over the opening orhole in the base, the opening being sized to receive a washer. 9.(canceled)
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the metallic material isselected from the group consisting of lead, tin, aluminum, copper,pewter or alloys thereof.
 11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled)
 13. (canceled)14. (canceled)
 15. The target of claim 1 wherein the base comprises apolymer.
 16. The target of claim 8 wherein the base comprises a polymer.